Sydney photographer wins international award for shot at Tamarama beach

Every day at work starts at the beach for Sydney photographer Gergo Rugli, and it was no different on the warm October morning when he captured the winning frame of the 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year Award.

The photo of dolphins cresting a wave alongside two surfers at Sydney’s iconic Tamarama Beach won in the competition’s Adventure category.

Rugli’s winning photo of dolphins with surfers at Tamarama, Sydney. Gergo Rugli Judges said Rugli’s photograph was “a joyful collision of two worlds that share the same water”.

There was a huge swell in the surf that day, the 45-year-old recalled.

“It was five, six metres at least. So I decided to jump in the ocean and started capturing these waves. And around half an hour later, a huge pod of dolphins came and they started surfing the waves with the surfers,” Rugli told the Herald.

Having grown up in landlocked Hungary, Rugli had no access to the ocean during his childhood and said he had always been fascinated by the water.

He “fell in love” with Australia on his first visit 16 years ago, and decided to make the move to Sydney four years later.

“When I moved here, I just started focusing on the ocean … Since then, I only photograph seascapes.”

Rugli’s photo was one of more than 15,000 submissions from around the world across nine categories. The awards were announced in London.

“Winning is basically a dream come true,” he said.

The photographs captured by the competition’s 116 finalists will be on display at the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition opening at the Australian Maritime Museum on November 19.

Winner of the Conservation (Impact) category.James Ferrara, Raa Atoll, MaldivesWinner of the Wildlife category. Julien Anton, French PolynesiaAdvertisementWinner of the Conservation (Hope) category.Thomas Pavy, French PolynesiaWinner of the Human Connection Award: People and Planet Ocean category.Rui Duarte, French PolynesiaGet to the heart of what’s happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.